Saxophone



June 4, 1940. F, E COMER 2,203,593

SAXOPHONE Filed Aug. 16, 1939 1 vucfrnfwo @M i (x Patented June 4, 1940PATENT OFFICE SAXOPHONE Floyd E. Comer, Elkhart, Ind.,

assigner to Buescher Band Instrument Company, Elkhart,

Ind.

Application August 16,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly toimprovements in saxophones.

An object of this invention is to provide a 5 saxophone wherein thevalves in the lower register are so positioned that they will notcontact with the clothes of the player.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument of thiskind wherein an improved operating means is provided for the valves inthe lower register.

A further object of this invention is to provide an instrument of thiskind wherein the placement of the valves in the lower register willeliminate the necessity of clothing guards, thus reducing the weight ofthe instrument.

A still further object of this invention aims to provide a saxophonewherein the valves in the lower register can be readily operated bypressure oi a little finger and wherein the lower Valves are connectedto the operating keys through a linkage rather than through a directconnection as is at present the case.

Embodying the aims aforesaid and others which may hereinafter appear,the invention consists oi the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts to be more specically described and as illustratedin the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of theinvention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed'.

Figure l is a detailed side elevation of a saxophone constructedaccording to an embodiment of this invention, certain of the keys andvalves being removed,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the lower portionof the saxophone,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral IU designates a mouth pipe havinga mouth piece I I on the upper end thereof. A downwardly tapering tonepipe I2 is detachably secured at its upper end to the lower or downturned end of the mouth pipe I and a U-shaped bow pipe I4 is secured onone leg thereof to the lower or large end of the tone pipe I2. The tonepipe I2 on the inner side thereof and adjacent the lower end is providedwith a nger grip I3 and the opposite leg I5 of the bow pipe I4 has abell I6 secured thereto. The outer leg I5 of the bowl pipe I4 1939,Serial No. 290,469

(C11. Sli-385) is substantially shorter in length than the inner leg I1.

At the present time in our construction of saxophones the last three orfour valves in the lower register are positioned on the bow pipe I4 andthe 5 bell I6 with certain of the valves on the bell I6 positioned onthe side of the bell opposite from the remaining valve or Valves. Inaddition to this at the present time, one of the lower valves ispositioned on the rear side of the bow so that 10 it is necessary tomount a clothing guard on the lower rear valve and the two valves whichare mounted on the bell on the side thereof opposite from the third-mostlower Valve. It is necessary to provide guards to keep the valves frombeing 15 fouled by clothing of the player and also to protect these padsor valves. If the instrument were not provided with guards, it is verylikely that these keys would be knocked out of line when, for instance,the player laid the instrument on a 20 table. The slightest jar islikely to bend the keys, and if they are bent, they do not t properly onthe socket, hence they leak.

In the structure shown in Figure 1, the valves in the upper registershave for the most part been 25 omitted, but it will be understood thatthe saxophone disclosed in Figure 1 will be provided with the usual ornormal number of valves and operating keys therefor. rlhe bell I5adjacent the upper end thereof and on the inner side is con- 30 nectedto the tone pipe I2 by means of a connecting or bracing bar I8, whichhas an angularly disposed outer end portion I9 secured to a reinforcingplate 20 which is fastened as by solder or the like to the inner side ofthe bell I6.

The bell I6 is provided adjacent the lower end thereof and on the innersector with a pair of outstanding cylindrical valve seats 2I and 22. Theinstrument herein disclosed is an E-flat saxophone and the valve seat 2|is the lowermost or 40 B-at valve seat, whereas the valve seat 22 is theB valve seat. The outer leg I5 of the bow pipe I4 is provided on aninner sector thereof with a valve seat 23, which is positioned invertical alignment with the valve seats 2| and 22. The 45 bight of thebow pipe I4 is provided in a side thereof with an outstanding Valve seat24 and a valve member (not shown) is adapted to engage the seat 24. Thevalve seat 23 is the C-sharp valve seat, whereas the valve seat 24 isthe C 50 valve seat. The inner leg I1 of the bow member I4 is providedon an inner sector thereof with a valve seat 25, which is positionedadjacent the upper end of the inner leg I5. A valve member 26 providedwith a pad 21 is adapted to engage 55 the valve seat 2l and has an arm28 secured thereto. The arm 28 is fixed to a shaft 29, which is mountedbetween a pair of upstanding bearing posts 3U and 3l. Preferably theshaft 28 is of hollow construction and an inner stationary pin isdisposed between the two posts 30 and 3|.

A lever or link 32 is fixed to the tubular shaft 29 at one side of thelever 28 and extends at a substantially acute angle to the lever 28projecting in the direction of the tone pipe l2. The inner or rear endof the link 32 has removably mounted thereon a pin 33 having a cushion34 in the form of a yieldable sleeve disposed thereabout. The pin 33- ispreferably a threaded pin provided with a slotted head so that the pin33 may be removably secured in the inner or free end of the link 32. Atubular shaft 35 is mounted between a pair of outstanding' bearings 36and 3l, which are fixed to the tone pipe l2. A link 38 is fixed to thetubular shaft 35 and projects in the direction of the link 32 with theouter or free end thereof overlapping the inner free end of the link'Ihe free end of the link 38 is provided with an elongated slot 39opening through the outer or free end of the link 38 and the cushionedpin 33 is adapted to slidably engage in the slot 39. The valve member 26is normally biased to an opened position by conventional spring devices(not shown).

A valve member 48 provided with a pad or gasket il is adapted to engageon the valve seat 22 and has an arm or a lever 42 secured thereto. Thearm d'2 is fixed to a tubular shaft 43 disposed in axial alignment withthe tubular shaft 2Q and rockably mounted on the same pin as the shaftE9. A link i4 is fixed to the tubular shaft 43 and is disposed at anacute angle to the lever or arm It, as s Aiown in Figure 3. Theconstruction of the arm 42 and the relation of this arm 42 to the link 4is the same as the arm cr lever 28 and the link 32. A tubular shaft 45is disposed in axial alignment with the tubular shaft 35 and a link 46is fixed to the tubular shaft and projects outwardly in the direction ofthe link 4d with the outer free end thereof disposed in overlapping'relation with respect to the link lili. The link 46 is provided in itsouter end with a slot 4'! within which a pin 48 slidably engages. Thepin 48 is threaded into the link shown in Figure 4 and is provided witha head engaging against the outer end of a e "ioning sleeve 5U. rIhesleeve 5U is slidable be en the bifurcations of the arm or link 46. Anarm or stop member 5| is fixed to the tubular shaft 5.5 and is adaptedto engage the periphery of the tone pipe i2 so as to limit the openingof the valve member 4B. The free end of the arm 5E, which engages thesurface of the tone pipe I2 is adapted to have a cushioning meanssecured thereto.

A valve member is adapted to engage the seat 23 and is provided with apad or sealing member he valve member 52 is secured to a lever w ich isfixed to a tubular shaft 55. The shaft is rockably mounted between alower bearing Sie and a bearing 56. The tubular shaft 55 has fixedthereto a pair of spaced apart ears or arms E? and a tubular shaft 53 isrockably mounted le' .e the two arrns or ears 51. A link 53 is fixed atone end to the tubular shaft 58 and at the opposite end to a tubularshaft 60. rI'he shaft 5d is disposed between a pair of arms 6i, whichare fixed to an elongated tubular shaft 62 which is rockably mountedbetween a pair of bearings 83 and 64. An operating key 65 is secured inlaterally disposed relation to the upper end of the tubular shaft 62.The valve member 54 is normally biased to a closed position Whereas thetwo valve members 26 and 40 are normally biased to an open position.

The tubular sleeve 35 associated with the valve 26 has an operating key66 secured to the upper end thereof and the tubular sleeve or shaft 45has an operating key 61 secured thereto through a connecting bar 68 anda link 69. A valve member 'i8 is associated with the valve seat 25 andhas an arm or lever 'H xed thereto. The arm or lever 'H is fixed to atubular shaft I2 mounted between a pair of outstanding bearings 13. Anoperating key Hl is fixed to a lever 15, which is fast on a tubularshaft 16 mounted between a pair of bearings ll. A lever 78 ofsubstantially L-shape has one leg thereof secured to the tubular shaftT2 and the opposite leg thereof is free and is disposed beneath theoperating key 74. A stop arm 'I9 is fixed to the tubular shaft I6 and isadapted to engage the periphery of the tone pipe i2, being provided onits contacting end with a cushioning means.

The operation playing of the instrument hereinbefore described is thesame as a conventional instrument, the operating keys being disposed inthe same relative positions with respect to the tone pipe l2 as is thecase with conventional instruments. It will be noted, however, that onthe rear or inner side of the tone pipe i2 and the inner leg l5 of thebow pipe lll that there are not valves, guards or mountings which areapt to catch cn the clothing of the player. By positioning the valvemembers 2, 4D and 52 on the inner sector of the bell Hi and the bow pipemember i5, it is not necessary to provide clothing guards for the valvemembers, thus eliminating a considerable amount of weight. Through theuse of the sliding connection between the operators foi` the two valves'PLS and d these valves may be readily biased to an open position andthese valves may be positioned at any suitable point on the inner sectorof the bell i6. In the present instance, the valves 25 and 1D arepositioned in confronting relation to the lowermost valves carried bythe tone pipe and which are associated with valve seats Si] and 5l fixedto the lower portion of the tone pipe l2 on the outer sector thereof.

The valve seats 2l, 22 and 23 are disposed in such a position that whenthe valves 25, l0 and 52, respectively, are moved to an open positionthe movement of these valves will be a rearward and inward movementtoward the tone pipe l2 and the rear leg of the bow pipe i4. In thismanner when the instrument is in use the valves 26, 40 and 52 will notbe swung outwardly and laterally as is the case where the valve seatsand valves are positioned on the side of the bell and bow pipe.

It is to be understood that while the instriunent here shown constructedaccording to this invention is an E-flat alto saxophone, the inventionmay also be used with B-iia't tenor saxophones, E-iiat baritonesaxophones, B-flat bass saxophones and B-iiat curved soprano saxophones.

What I claim is:

l. In a saxophone including a tone pipe and a bell, a plurality ofvertically spaced apart valve seats on said bell on an inner sector ofthe rear one-half thereof, said seats being disposed in alignment, avalve for each seat, and operating means for said Valves, said operatingmeans moving said valves rearwardly and inwardly to an open position.

2. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U-shaped bow pipe and a bell,a plurality of vertically spaced apart valve seats on an inner sector ofthe rear one-half of said bell, said seats being disposed in alignment,a valve for each seat, a shaft for each valve, means pivotally mountingsaid shafts on said bell on an inner sector of the rear one-halfthereof, an arm secured to each shaft and a valve, a lever Iixed to eachshaft projecting in the direction of said tone pipe, a right angularlydisposed pin carried by each lever, an operating shaft for each lever,means pivotally mounting said operating shafts on said tone pipe, a keyfor each operating shaft, and a lever xed to each operating shaft, saidlatter levers having a slotted end engaging a pin of said first levers,said operating means moving said valves rearwardly and inwardly to anopen position.

3. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U-shaped bow pipe and a bell,a lower valve seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer leg thereof andon an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, a pluralityof valve seats on said bell in alignment with said rst valve seat anddisposed on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said bell, a valvefor each valve seat, and operating means for said valves, said operatingmeans moving said valves rearwardly and inwardly to an open position.

4. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U-shaped bow pipe and a bell,a lower valve ,seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer leg thereofand on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, aplurality of valve seats on said bell in alignment with said first valveseat and disposed on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said bell,a valve for each valve seat, and operating means for said valves, saidoperating means including a link fixed relative to a valve, a secondlink, means pivotally mounting said second link on said tone pipe, and aloose connection between said links, said operating means moving saidvalves rearwardly and inwardly to an `open position.

5. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U- shaped bow pipe and abell, a lower valve seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer legthereof and on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, aplurality of valve seats on said bell in alignment with said first valveseat and disposed on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said bell,a valve for each valve seat, operating means for said valves, saidoperating means including a link xed relative to a valve, an operatingshaft, for each valve, means pivotally mounting said shafts on said tonepipe, a link xed to each shaft and having the free end thereofoverlapping an adjacent end of a valve link, and a sliding connectionbetween the overlapping ends of said links said operating means movingsaid valves rearwardly and inwardly to an open position.

6. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U- shaped bow pipe and abell, a lower valve seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer legthereof and on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, aplurality of valve seats on said bell in alignment with said first valveseat and disposed on an inner sector of the rear one-half of said bell,a valve for each valve seat, operating means for said valves, saidoperating means including a link fixed relative to a valve, an operatingshaft for each valve, means pivotally mounting said shafts on said tonepipe, a link fixed to each shaft and having the free end thereofoverlapping an adjacent end of a valve link, the free end of one linkhaving an elongated slot therein, and a pin carried by the overlappingend of an adjacent link slidably engaging in said slot said operatingmeans moving said valves rearwardly and inwardly to an open position.

7. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U-shaped bow pipe and a bell,a lower valve seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer leg thereof andon an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, a pluralityof valve seats on said bell in alignment with said rst valve seat anddisposed on an inner sector of the rear onehalf of said bell, a valvefor each valve seat, operating means for said valves, said operatingmeans including a link xed relative to a valve, an operating shaft foreach valve, means pivotally mounting said shafts on said tone pipe, alink xed to each shaft and having the free end thereof overlapping anadjacent end of a valve link, the free end of one linkhaving anelongated slot therein, a pin carried by the overlapping end of anadjacent link slidably engaging in said slot, and a cushioning sleevecarried by said pin said operating means moving said valves rearwardlyand inwardly to an open position.

8. In a saxophone including a tone pipe and a bell, a plurality ofvertically spaced apart valve seats on said bell, said seats beingdisposed in alignment and on the inner or rear half of the bell within arange of forty-live degrees of the center of the rear half of the bell,a valve for each seat, and operating means for said valves the movementof a valve to an open position being a rearward and inward movement inthe direc-tion of the tone pipe.

9. In a saxophone including a tone pipe, a U-shaped bow pipe and a bell,a lower valve seat carried by said bow pipe on the outer leg thereof andon an inner sector of the rear one-half of said outer leg, a secondvalve seat carried by said bow pipe on the inner leg thereof and on anouter sector of said inner leg, a plurality of valve seats on said bellin alignment with said rst valve seat and disposed on an inner sector ofsaid bell, a valve for each valve seat and operating means for saidvalves said operating means moving the valves engaging the seats on saidbell rearwardly and inwardly to an open position.

FLOYD E. COMER.

